dumont



3 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. DUMONT.

WIND MOTOR.

(No Model.)

No. 274,289. Patented Ma.1-.20, 188-3.

N PEIERS. Piano-Lithograph". Wnhiuglon. ma

(No Model.) s sheets-sheen 2.

A. DUMONT.

WIND MOTOR. No. 274,289. Patented Maf.20,1'883.

fnmnfar 3 Sheets-Sheefi'l. A. DUMONT. WIND MOTOR.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar.20,1'883.

Wil 6446 4 pendicular to the shaft.

UNITED. STATES PATENT Gretna.

ALEXANDRE DUMONT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

WIND-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,289, dated March 20, 1883.

of Paris, France, have invented Improvements in Wind-Motors and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the same, reference being had to the annexed sheet of drawings, making a part of the same.

This invention relates to an improved windmotor having curved vanes or blades an tomatically presented to the direction of the wind,

with or without a director-vane, and self-governing as regards speed, so that the motor can be safely left unattended, and will work equally Well in the most violent tempests as in light winds. It may be constructed of such dimensions as to furnish ten,fifteen, or twenty horsepower, if required. I

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to describe itwithreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents the outline of the curve of one of the vanes and its projection on a plane perpendicular to the shaft. Fig. 2 represents the projection of the vane on a verti-' cal plane parallel to the shaft. Fig. 3 shows the horizontal projection of the vane. Fig. 4 shows the development of a sector of seventynine degrees, equal to the surface occupied by each vane in the geometrical circle formed by the projection of the entire mill in a plane per- Fig. 5 shows the development, with their curvature and inclination on the plane of rotation, of the several transverse lines of the vane from the center to the circumference. Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the front face presented to the wind of a motor constructed accordingto the present invention, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of the rear face. Figs. 8 and 9 represent the general arrangement of the-motor mounted on a framework self-adjusting to the direction of the wind without a director-vane. Fig. 10 shows on a larger scale the principal parts by which this self-adjustment is effected. Figs. 11 and 12 represent in elevation and plan a similar mill adjusted to thedirection of the wind by means of a director-vane, which is also separately represented on a. larger scale in Fig. 13.

Whateverthe numberot' the vanes, they collectively occupy about seven-eighths of the geo- Application filed January 20, 1883. (No model.)

metrical surface of the mill projected on a plane perpendicular to the shaft. Each vaneis curved in its length from center to circumference (see Fig. 1) inversely to the direction of rotation, according to a demi-parabola whose ldirectrix and focus vary (a b c d efg h 6) throughout the outline, and whose vertex is at the center, 0, of the mill. The curve may be opened or closed more or less, according to requirements, by shifting the focus nearer to or farther'from the center, 0. Each vane may be divided trans versely into an infinite number of curved lines, A B G D E F Gr H, whose projections on a plane perpendicular to the shaft are all concentric. Each one lies wholly in one plane, forming with the plane of rotation of the mill a varying angle, as follows, (see Fig. 5:) The extreme transverse curve, A B,of the vane toward the circumference is inclined according to circumstances and the speed to be attained, so as to form an angle with the plane of rotation of from nine degrees to twenty-five degrees. From this, as a basis, the others, 0 D E F, nearer the shaft, as far as the middle of the vane, are so inclined that the sine of the angle formed by each with the plane of rotation shall be inversely proportional to the square of the distance between it and the center. The vane at its mid-length is thus inclined thirty-five degrees to forty degrees to the plane of rotation, and between this point and the shaft the angle continues to open proportionally to the distance traversed toward the center, and attains ninety degrees at said center. Thus transversely each vane is parallel to the shaft at the center, while it forms with it an angle of forty-five degrees to fiftyfivedegrees midway between the center and the circumference of the mill. the shaft an angle of from sixty-five degrees. to eighty-one degrees at its extremity near the circumference.

It will be understood from the foregoing,

and also by reference to the perspective view,

Figs. 6 and 7, that all the transverse elements of the rear surface of the vaneare inclined to the axis proportionally to the square of the velocity, so that the resistance presented by the vane is equal at all points. Byreason of It also forms with the outline of the curve the same observation applies to the vane considered in the direction of its length. Hence the vane during its rosurface.

tation will be uniformly sustained at all points by the resistance of the air, and this enables the mill to be constructed lightly and of very large dimensions, and to be exposed to the most violent tempests without reducing its On the other hand, the angle formed by the vane with the plane of rotation being ninety degrees near the shaft, and from thirtyii ve degrees to forty-five degrees at about midlength of the vane, it follows that the surface nearest to the center of the mill will be in some degree sacrificed as regards useful work, the loss of which is not, however, very prejudicial, as the work done near the center is inconsiderable; but this part, which forms a very open angle with the plane ofrotation, acts as a sort of regulator, the effect being slight with light winds when the motion is slow, but which becomes, on the contrary, verypoweriul when the motion is accelerated. The root of the vane being parallel to the shaft at the point where it is attached thereto, great strength is insured.

I will now proceed to describe a practical construction of the framing of the improved wind-motor with reference to Figs. 8, 9, and 10.

The motor, constructedas described,is poised upon a pivot, 11 at the top of a hollow vertical column, M so as to be freely turned to the direction of the wind by the pressure against the vanes themselves, or by means of a directing-vane/ This pivot has a central aperture for the passage of the vertical shaft K which is geared by miter-wheels I with the mill-shaft L and passes down through the hollow column.

A is a box weighted with stones, sand, or other materials to counterpoise the vanes and their accessories, and thus balance the mill upon the pivot 11*. 1

At 0 I) are two sets of friction-rollers, (each six in number,) mounted upon the traming Y and running around the column M so as to maintain the frame in position.

B B are two rollers beneath the framing, and close to but not touchingthe ground when the wind is light and the framing is in equilibrium, but which bear and run upon a racerplate and support the framing when the mill yields slightly under the pressure of a strong wind. As shown in Fig. 8, the horizontal shaft L has a conical steel point at F, which, while the mill is in work, bears against a plate, G to take the end-thrust of the shaft.

Fig. 10 is a section showing details on a larger scale. The pivot H rests in a cup or concave bearing, 1 at top of the column M The vertical shaft K passes freely through the pivot H but turns as in a bearing in the cup, which has a leather packing at J to prevent the escape of the oil contained in cup 1 Instead of miter-wheels P a disk may be fixed on the end of the shaft, so as to obtain a direct transmission of motion in small mills. The advantages of this improved motor are,

1 first, an exceedingly sensitive adjustment, so

as to utilize the very lightest breezes; second, great strength to resist high winds, combined with lightness of construction; third, the endthrust of the mill-shaft being entirely taken by plate G the shaft rotates with little friction.

As above'described, the adjustment of the mill is automatic without the aid of a directing-vane; but Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show a similar mill in which a directing vane is employed to adjust the mill, and also toregulate its speed. This is shown in Figs. 11 and 13, and consists of two directing vanes or rudders mounted vertically at the rear ofthe mill. One of them, A 0 is inclined at about thirtyfive degrees to the plane of rotation of the rotary vanes and is a fixture to the framing, while the other, A 13 when in repose, makes an equal angle in the opposite direction, but

is free to move in an arc of a circle about the point A as a center, and thus to approach close up to the vane A B As shown in Fig. 13, the vane A B turns upon screw or rising pivots, so that in approaching the vane A 0 it will also be raised, and will therefore always tend, with more or less force, to returnto its lowest position, according to the pitch of the rising pivots.

It should be observed that when the mill is left to itself, without a means of adjustment, the plane of rotation of the revolving vanes will not be perpendicular to the direction of the wind, but inclined thereto at a greater or less angle, this being due to the peculiar conformation of the rotary vanes. The two steeringvanes A B -and A O aretherefore made of such different areas as will exactly counteract this tendency, the angle of thirty-five degrees, to which they are set, being also varied with the same object.

The arrows D V in Fig. 12 show the direction of the wind. and the full lines represent the position of the mill with regard to this direction in a breeze of which it is desired to utilize the whole force. In this position the entire surface of the rotating vanes is so presented to the wind as to produce a useful effect. When the wind freshens beyond that demanded by the work to be performed it will be of sufficient strength to cause the steering-vane A B to turn on its pivots A whereupon, the equilibrium between the two steering-vanes being destroyed, the mill will slightly shift its position and present less surface to the wind. The steering-vane A B thus momentarily shifted, returns automatically to its normal position, as well as the framing, if thegust of wind should cease, or become still further shifted if the gale continues. During a storm the mill might thus assume the position represented in dotted lines at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the direction of the wind. In this position good work is done, although one-third only of the area of the revolving vanes is exposed to the wind, which strikes full against the descending rotary vanes, only the ascending ones being presented edgewise.

By the above steering apparatus, which is not, structed on the parabola a b c d e f g h t, and however, indispensable, the Working of the forming curves A BC D E F G H, substanmotor maybe regulated when the wind is blowtially as herein shown and described. I 5 ing a stifi' breeze and the framing relieved 2. The directing vane or rudder A B and 5 during hurricanes. The directing or steering A 0 constructed, arranged, and operating vanes may also be constructed and mounted in substantially as described,in combination with y any other suitable manner, and may also be a windmill, as specified. applied to all other kinds of windmills for the purpose of diminishing the area presented to ALEXANDRE DUMONT. [O a high wind. Witnesses:

I I claim- Roncr. M. HOOPER,

1. The rotary-vanes for a wind-motor, con- JEAN BAPTISTE ROLLAND. 

